Joe Anthony Archibald

JOE ANTHONY ARCHIBALD 

“In life we have pleasures with our loved ones; we have sorrows and joy but thank God for the memories that death cannot destroy.”

To know Joe was to love Joe. Once again, death has invaded the rank of the Archibald, Tripplett and Sanders family and carried away a loving father, grandfather, brother, son, uncle, nephew, cousin, sands, Brother of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated and a loyal and dedicated friend. Joe Anthony Archibald, affectionately called “Joe”,  “Daddy”,  “Little Joe,” “Uncle Joe” and “Granddaddy” by his beloved family and friends knew that Christianity did not exempt one from death but ensured triumph over death.

On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 5:19 p.m., Joe peacefully pulled off mortal and put on immortality, making the transition to his heavenly home at Corewell Health Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph, Michigan, surrounded by the prayers and love of his beloved Shirley, his beautiful daughters, son and grandchildren, his sister and brothers, his father, his cousin Ramona who was with him and his final nurse on this side who was named “Lucille”. 

The mortal life of Joe Anthony Archibald was born on May 19, 1955, in Hughes, Arkansas, to his loving mother, the late Lucille Archibald-Sanders whom he loved dearly and the late Joe Perry Marshall and raised by his devoted father, Richard Sanders.  He was preceded in death by his mother and father, his uncles: Willie Horton, Johnny and Fletcher Archibald, his aunts, Effie G., Willie B., Vera and Hermine ; his maternal grandparents, John and Clara Archibald, his paternal grandparents, Nancy Marshall and Willie and Mayetta Sanders, his brother, Alfred Sanders, his granddaughter, Ebony Rose Childs and his god-sister, Donquella Reid-Singh.

At an early age, Joe dedicated his life to Christ as evidenced by him uniting with the Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church under the pastoral guidance of the late Rev. C.L Woodson and later uniting in fellowship with the Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. Emery Mack Varrie I.   

Joe was formally educated in the Benton Harbor Area Schools and attended Henry C. Morton, Seely McCord, Benton Harbor Junior High School and was a proud graduate of Benton Harbor High School’s Class of 1973.  In high school, Joe received his Varsity Letters in football and was so proud of his Varsity “B” and he kept it pristine until it was lost in a family house fire.  Joe was a loyal Benton Harbor Tiger and had just celebrated his 50th Year Class Reunion this summer just weeks before his passing.     

Upon graduation from Benton Harbor High School, Joe matriculated at Ferris State College, in Big Rapids, Michigan, and graduated in 1977 with a degree in Printing Management with an emphasis in Graphic Arts. It was at Ferris State that he found his “Phi Nu Pi” as he pledged and became a Brother of his beloved Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. 

In the Spring of 1977, Joe crossed the burning sands into the Epsilon Tau (ET) Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi on the infamous line of “Capa’Sconi’s”.  There were “17” young men on that line of which he was the “4”.  He later became a member of the Benton Harbor Alumni Chapter and served with humility and deference until he reached those Golden Shores.  He will surely be missed.

Throughout his lifetime, Joe worked several jobs in his field of study and was always one of the smartest ones on the job.  He worked for Patterson Printing, Imperial Printing, Oscar Printing, the Herald Palladium, the City of Benton Harbor, Harbor Handwash Car Wash & Painting, and his final workplace was his beloved Benton Harbor Area Schools until his health failed. 

He was a loyal and devoted youth coach and was honored to serve the youth of this community.  He coached basketball, football, little league baseball  and left his footprints on many of their hearts as he always taught them life lessons that they never forgot; ones that will be passed on to generations to come. Joe always took time out with the Kappa Leaguers and was so proud of his nephews and all of the young men when they were inducted into our National Guide Right Program.

Our brother was the most kind and loving brother you could ever have.  There was never a time that he did not come when we called and was in need.  He was a caring and dedicated father to his three beautiful daughters, Shakia, Jonel and Rianca and his son Shant.  His grandchildren were the apple of his eye and all of his nieces and nephews loved “Uncle Joe” and he loved them back with everything within him. 

In this life, Joe was kind-hearted, patient, smart, a selfless giver, spoiled, genuine, humorous, loving, and he loved all genres of music and could sing like a bird.  He cherished his family; especially his cousins who came from far and near to see him in his last days, and he loved God.  One of his last requests before he stopped talking was play “Near The Cross.”  We are Really Gonna Miss You Brother!

Joe will forever be remembered in the hearts of his father, Richard Sanders; his lifelong companion through it all and who was there to the end of his life,  Shirley Mae Looney; (3) beautiful daughters, Shakia Harden of Kalamazoo, Jonel Latrice Archibald and Rianca Gezel Jacqueline Washington both of Benton Harbor; (1) son, Shant (Quantessa) Looney of South Bend, IN; his beloved siblings, Rodger Reinaldo Tripplett and his wife Marian, sister, Sharon Renee James and her husband Damarco, both of Benton Harbor, Keith Andre Sanders and his wife, Leticia of Memphis, TN and Danny Shelby and his wife Tarol of Gilbert, IL;  (5) loving sisters, Cathey (Rocky) Quintana, of Dallas, TX,  Nerissa (Kevin) Williams and Lynette Sanders, both of Grand Rapids, Valerie (Darryle) Cheatham of Greer, SC, and Brenda (Darren) Matthews,  of Benton Harbor; (7) aunts: Rosie, Mary, Emma, Perona, Georgia, Lela, and Flo; (1) uncle, Larry Sanders; his goddaughter, Terriest Haire; god-sister, Zephera (Ralph) Gipson-Holman; god-brothers, Cory McGinnis and John (Anja) Holmes; (3) granddaughters, Dontrielle, Sincere and Harmony; (10) grandsons, Edarius, EShawn, Etrevion, Edwin, Damontre, Anton, Alon, Shaunt, Tyler and Omari; (6) great-grandchildren, (2) special friends, Tommy and Inez, his Fraternity Brothers and a host of special nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.  And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain” Revelations 21:4

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